I believe in friendship more than love." As she spoke, Helmsley looked at her steadily, his face darkening with a shadow of weary scorn.
"I see!" he murmured coldly.

"You do not care to over-fatigue the heart's action by unnecessary emotion.

Quite right! If we were all as wise as you are at your age, we might live much longer than we do.

You are very sensible, Lucy!--more sensible than I should have thought possible for so young a woman." She gave him a swift, uneasy glance.

She was not quite sure of his mood.
"Friendship," he continued, speaking in a slow, meditative tone, "is a good thing,--it may be, as you suggest, safer and sweeter than love.